Hiking in the Heat: Minnewaska State Park

By Connor Mccausland

As we kept going, drenched with salty sweat and tasting it with every step, we stopped in the shade to take one of many breaks. In the stillness, we heard something that sounded like a choir: a babbling brook, and singing stream, a ringing river. We quickly went off the beaten path (much easier literally than figuratively) and headed towards the sound

Rae Lakes Loop Trail

By Vincent Ribeiro & Jocelyn Chuang

We camped past the lakes to get away from some of the wetlands on a breezy rock just off the trail, and saw some other hikers camping a few dozen yards away from us. Jocelyn looked out at the stars at one point in the night and saw a bear cruising along the rock outcropping minding its own business.

Best Short Summer Hike: Lake Minnewaska & Awosting Falls

By Matthew Young

You’ll find some solitude amongst the pitch pine and birches. The world quiets down, and the gentle lapping of the water at the lake shore is the main soundtrack. Its a relatively short trail, so take your time to enjoy the Minnewaska wilderness. Once it’s over, you’ll be wishing it was longer

Huckleberry Point

By Matthew Young

The Hudson River cuts through the canopy to your left, and the Shawangunk Ridge rises in the distance like broken glass in a blue haze. Turkey Vultures and hawks ride the thermals, navigating gracefully in the air overhead without a sound.

Bashakill Wetlands

By Matthew Young

The bass notes of the bullfrogs set the rhythm section of the wildlife orchestra that crescendos on warm nights. The katydids and peepers repeat a swelling chorus that echoes off the Shawangunk ridge. Though far from the city, the sounds of summer at the Bashakill wetlands rival New York’s busy streets.

Storm King Mountain & Butter Hill

By Matthew Young

Even though other places may have taller peaks or deeper canyons, the mountains and forests of Upstate New York have a completely different appeal. They feel older, time worn and rich in history. Even with New York City so close, the land feels ancient and unchanged. You can touch the sandstone and limestone that has been rounded out for eons, and walk atop the slabs carved out by glaciers.

Denton Falls & Mullet Falls

By Matthew Young

The woods in the Neversink Unique area are strangely quiet and still. What sounds like light rain on a cloudless day is actually the sound of leaves and needles dropping from the trees, landing softly on the forest floor. Because of the abundance of pine trees, much the land here seems less dense than other hikes, without the leafy branches blocking out the sun.

Slide Mountain

By Matthew Young

Of course New York is beautiful in the fall. You can wander along a wooded path in Central Park with a hot coffee, or lay out on the Great Lawn enjoying the warm midday sun. However, if you are looking for a true outdoor autumn experience, nothing beats a hike in the Catskills. While the City is still holding on to the final fleeting days of summer, autumn has already made a home in the mountains and valleys of upstate.

Bear Hill Preserve

By Matthew Young

I like to find a comfortable spot and just soak-in my surroundings. The only sounds from the top are the faint hum of rustling leaves and a rooster’s call from a farm on the valley floor. With only a few small breaks in the canopy, the land looks carpeted in green as far as you can see. I can watch as a thunderstorm moves left to right across the valley below.

Bear Mountain

By Matthew Young

Bear Mountain is one of the closest and most easily accessible trails for those living in the New York City area. Sitting only forty miles north of NYC, the state park provides a convenient escape, perfect for a day trip. Even though it may be close to the city, don’t expect this hike to be anything like the Big Apple. Bear Mountain is a rugged landscape with challenging hikes, quaint mountain lakes, and even hosts a portion of the famed Appalachian Trail.